Gender difference in workplace violence associated with job characteristics among civil servants: A nationwide Taiwan survey

Abstract

Workplace violence (WPV) is on the rise in occupational settings across Taiwan, with civil servants being no exception to this concerning trend. This study seeks to explore gender disparities in WPV and assess its correlation with job characteristics. A total of 20,046 civil servants from 647 institutions participated in the study, revealing significant gender-based differences in the occurrence of four categories of violence. Upon adjusting for covariates, the findings indicate that female civil servants exhibit higher odds ratios (aORs) for experiencing psychological (aOR=1.62), verbal (aOR=1.43) and sexual harassment (aOR=1.40). Particularly noteworthy is the increased likelihood of WPV among female civil servants compared to their male counterparts, especially within specific demographics: those working in health services (aOR=2.24), local government (aOR=1.64), unmarried civil servants (aOR=1.88) and those in supervisory positions (aOR=1.64). These results hold significant implications for anticipating, preventing and intervening in incidents of WPV within governmental offices. There is a pressing need for enhanced training programmes addressing gender-based WPV, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and intervention strategies for civil servants, especially those identified as more vulnerable based on their demographic and occupational profiles.